Selendi Moralı Narince
Hidden away in the unwelcoming landscape of Turkey’s north-eastern Aegean are the organic vineyards of Selendi Şarapları. The arid heat of Akhısar is not where one would expect to find the native Narince grape. This thin-skinned, delicate white grape hails from Turkey’s Black Sea region where it thrives in the area’s 1500+ meter elevations and mild, oceanic climate. And yet, it is exactly in this dry heat where the winery grows the grapes for its Selendi Moralı Narince.
A combination of stony, loamy clay, and limestone soils make up Selendi’s Moralı vineyard where they grow Narince at 850 meters. Narince may have its roots buried more deeply in the wet and cool Black Sea region but has no complaints about the dry heat! Unfortunately, this wine proves difficult to find. I only know one store that stocks it, Dekante in Istiniye Park. Although since Selendi made only 1,474 bottles in 2018, Dekante might not even have it anymore. Hopefully the winery will release more of the 2019 vintage.
Selendi Moralı Narince 2018 Tasting Notes
Black Sea Narince often displays a pale lemony color but Selendi’s shows more of a dull gold, hay-like sheen. A swirl released fruity and floral aromas. “Fruity and floral” can so often be interpreted as light or even insipid. This wine is neither. The heavy fragrance of almost decayed white flowers blends with ripe stone and tropical fruits in a perfume both rich and heady.
The palate too distinguished itself from a typical Black Sea Narince with its light to medium body and medium-high acidity. Although with the grape’s lively acidity, this wine had a slightly oily weight. Medium-bodied with 13.5% abv and a long finish, it displayed flavors similar to the nose. Flavors of pineapple, ripe pear, red apple, and exotic flowers matched with beautiful balance and elegance made this a truly unique and exceptional Narince.